Week 3 gave a little bit of everything for the Gamecocks scattered across the NFL: touchdowns, sacks, heavy tackle totals and one booming punt that stood out on its own.
Nate Adkins made the most of his lone grab for the Denver Broncos, turning it into an eight-yard touchdown in Denver’s 30-26 win against the Los Angeles Rams on Sept. 27.
Deebo Samuel delivered the biggest splash play of the bunch for San Francisco, ripping off an 80-yard touchdown and adding two rushes for 14 yards in the 49ers’ 36-30 win over Arizona on Sept. 27.
On the defensive side, D.J. Wonnum was a problem for the New York Jets in Detroit’s 31-24 win on Sept. 27, finishing with two solo tackles and two sacks. Bryan Thomas Jr. also got into the backfield for Jacksonville, posting one tackle, one quarterback hit and half a sack in the Jaguars’ 35-6 win over New England.
A few Gamecocks piled up tackles in losses. Demetrius Knight led the way with nine stops, including two solos, in Cincinnati’s 30-27 loss to Pittsburgh on Sept.
- Ernest Jones was right behind with eight tackles, including three solos, in Seattle’s 33-31 loss to Washington, while Brandon Cisse had seven tackles for Green Bay in its 35-14 loss to Atlanta on Sept.
- Keisean Nixon added six tackles in that same Packers loss.
Nick Barrett finished with three tackles, including one solo, one quarterback hit and half a sack in the Chargers’ 24-16 loss to Buffalo on Sept. 27. Kingsley Enagbare had three tackles, including two solos, in the Jets’ 31-24 loss to Detroit, and Tonka Hemingway recorded three tackles, including one solo, in Las Vegas’ 35-27 win over New Orleans.
There were smaller stat lines, too, but they still mattered. Nick Emmanwori had two solo tackles in Seattle’s loss to Washington, Jaycee Horn posted two tackles, including one solo, in Carolina’s 21-18 loss to Cleveland, and Javon Kinlaw had two tackles and one quarterback hit in Washington’s win over Seattle.
Kai Kroeger’s leg also showed up on the stat sheet. The Houston Texans punter had five punts for 261 yards, including a career-high 67-yard punt, in Houston’s 19-17 loss to Indianapolis on Sept. 27.
Raheim “Rocket” Sanders contributed in Cleveland’s 21-18 win against Carolina, finishing with four catches for 34 yards and one rush for 17 yards. In another familiar Gamecock line, Bryan Thomas Jr. helped Jacksonville’s defense roll in the 35-6 win over New England, and D.J. Wonnum capped the week with one of the strongest pass-rushing performances on the list.
Overall, it was a busy Week 3 for South Carolina’s NFL contingent, with impact plays spread across offense, defense and special teams.
In Other News...
Dylan Stewart Now Faces A Bigger South Carolina Question
Dylan Stewarts absence has become one of the more delicate storylines around South Carolina as Shane Beamer tries to balance accountability with the bigger picture for a young player the Gamecocks clearly need. Beamer said Stewart is suspended and not with the team, a status that leaves the program sorting through both the fallout from an in-game punch and the standards Beamer has made central to his approach.
The SEC later confirmed the contact as egregious, adding another layer to a situation that is no longer just about one moment on the field. For South Carolina, the question now is not only when Stewart returns, but whether he can earn back the trust and meet the programs expectations before Beamer decides his future involvement. [Read more 🡒]
Kentucky Faces An Early SEC Test That Could Reshape Its Ranking Push
South Carolinas SEC start has already put a little pressure on the season, with the Gamecocks dropping their first two conference games and now turning to a matchup at home against No. 24 Kentucky. LaNorris Sellers has had a rougher time in league play, and with the College Football Playoff picture still in view, this one carries a little extra weight for a team that cant afford many more stumbles in conference.
Kentucky arrives with a defense that has been strong by national standards, even as its offense has left some questions unanswered. Oddsmakers still see South Carolina as a 2.5-point favorite, a sign that the Gamecocks have a chance to steady things in a game that feels important well beyond one Saturday. [Read more 🡒]
Kentuckys Surge Gets A Real Test In Columbia
Kentucky is back in the Associated Press Top 25 for the first time since October 2023, and the timing gives Saturdays SEC trip to Columbia a little extra weight. The Wildcats have strung together two straight wins behind efficient quarterback play and a ground game that has looked more dependable lately, which is a different kind of challenge for a South Carolina team trying to steady itself in conference play.
South Carolina enters the matchup trying to snap a seven-game SEC losing streak, and the Gamecocks will have to do it without defensive end Dylan Stewart, who is serving a one-game suspension after egregious contact in a recent game. Kentucky has earned the right to be taken seriously again, but this is also the kind of road test that can tell you whether the surge is real or just a short-lived lift. [Read more 🡒]